Zoning proposal worries neighbors

Opus Dei expansion could separate NE side residences.

Opus Dei expansion could separate NE side residences.

May 14, 2006|JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- No one in the neighborhood really knows what goes on in the Opus Dei house, but Molly Whelan, board member on the Northeast Neighborhood Council, said neighbors don't care. She said neighbors are not worried about the activities of the group, which has gained national attention because of its controversial inclusion in the book and upcoming movie "The Da Vinci Code." They are more concerned about the potential zoning change that could threaten the residential neighborhood. "If in five years they (Opus Dei) need to grow and move, then it (the property) is open to many uses," Whelan said. Opus Dei, an entity within the Catholic church, wants to expand the Windmoor Center, 1121 Notre Dame Ave. The group is coming before the city board of zoning and appeals Thursday to petition for a special exception zoning change to "limited group residence." The group owns the lot directly behind the Notre Dame Avenue residence that has an address on St. Peter Street. The home and lot on St. Peter Street currently are fenced in. According to the board of zoning and appeals petition, Opus Dei owns an adjacent property on Napoleon Street and wants to connect all three properties with covered and open air walkways. The current building would be torn down and a new two-story facility would be built and connected to two other buildings. A walkway from the buildings would lead to a three-car garage and parking lot at the Napoleon Street property. The walkways, building and parking would cover about 27,237 square feet. Whelan said Opus Dei has been cooperative with neighbors and started discussing the expansion plans with them last summer. Originally the group wanted to build one large building, which Whelan said looked similar to a college dormitory. Although, the current plan for three buildings is better, Whelan said neighbors still are concerned about a zoning change. If the exception is granted and Opus Dei continues to expand, it would change the character of the single-family-home neighborhood. "What if it becomes the flagship house? It carries the potential for even larger growth," Whelan said. Two vacant lots and another home sit on both sides of the proposed parking structure. Some neighbors fear Opus Dei eventually will buy those properties and take over the block, Whelan said. It could also be difficult to attract home buyers to those vacant lots if the homes are separated from the rest of the neighborhood by a large compound. Whelan said an increase in traffic could also bring property values down in the neighborhood. Attempts to reach the Windmoor Center for comment were unsuccessful. Growing interest? The Catholic group has made national news since the release of the book "The Da Vinci Code." In the book, the group has been portrayed as a dark secret society of monks. Sony Pictures has turned the book into a movie that is set to be released Friday, coincidentally the day after Opus Dei goes before the board. Opus Dei means "work of God" in Latin. Those associated with the organization dedicate themselves to theological conservatism and personal spirituality. Unlike a monastic order, most members live in the secular world and express their Christianity in their lives through work, family and church. The group was founded in 1928 by Spanish priest Josemaria Escriva, who was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2002. The Opus Dei Windmoor Center has been on Notre Dame Avenue for decades and is just two blocks from the entrance to Notre Dame's campus. The group has no ties to the university, but some students live at the center, and others visit weekly. It is one of about 19 Opus Dei centers near colleges and universities in the country. Nationally, Opus Dei has 3,000 members and about 60 spiritual centers. In an interview with The Tribune in April 2005, the local group had 20 members with an additional 40 people associated with the organization. According to the board of zoning and appeals petition, the new buildings would provide housing for a staff chaplain and 14 resident students, along with a kitchen and dining area. The chaplain gives a weekly spiritual talk for students and leads conferences on spiritual life, monthly. Sometimes in the summer, a few theology or philosophy courses are given "to students or professionals." Students enrolled in the courses live at Windmoor for the summer. The staff also organizes programs for junior high and high school students which include "sports, study skills and leadership programs." Stability Whelan stressed that the negative hype generated by "The Da Vinci Code" around Opus Dei has nothing to do with neighborhood opposition. Aside from parking congestion when the group holds meetings, the Windmoor Center residents have never caused problems, she said. But if Opus Dei leaves someday, the zoning left behind on the property could allow the space to be used as housing for students or other uses that might not be appropriate for a residential area, Whelan said. "Stability is still a really big issue," she said. The Association for Educational Development in Chicago is listed as the owner of the property on the zoning petition. Whelan said since the property owners are not local, she has no reason to believe the organization will care about the impact left on the neighborhood if Opus Dei leaves. "Everybody gets along with the residents of Windmoor," she said. "But none of them are property owners." Residents in the northeast neighborhood have put a lot of effort into keeping homes in the area owner-occupied. The area is on the threshold of Notre Dame and Whelan said residents have worked hard to keep student rental properties from encroaching on the neighborhood. Although residents are open to investment in the area, Whelan said the type of development and location make a difference. "This is a tough thing for neighbors to take up against immediate neighbors," she said. The board of zoning and appeals is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. Thursday in council chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City Building. Staff writer Jamie Loo: jloo@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6337